Sillunu Oru Kadhal

My script writing course taught me how one needs to analyze characters of a movie before starting a script. We are asked to write a detailed history of characters so that it will help us know how they would react in different situations encountered during the story. Since then, I have analyzed the characters in the movies very closely and tried to understand the script writer’s thoughts.

Sillunu Oru kadhal (A Cool Lover story) is one of my most favorite movies mainly because of the characterization. The three central characters in the movie are the most beautifully etched characters I have seen so far.

Kundavi (Jyothika) – This is the first character the audience witness in the movie and is introduced as bubbly, naughty girl who desires to marry someone she loves, but faith has something else destined for her and is married to a man she barely knows. One sees Kundavi grow through the movie from a girl to a woman and finally into someone with matured understanding of herself and her relationships.

Gautham (Surya) – Character of Gautham is mysterious in the beginning and as the movie proceeds one gets to view his transition to a man, from a boy; a human from rouge; His character shows the different shades of we humans; how we once were and what we become due to bad or good experiences of life. Gautham’s character clearly explains the transition in a man’s life from being ignorant to becoming a responsible husband; from arrogant, carefree days of past, where one did not think of results to the present, where one has to make decisions to suit a family and their well being.

Aishwarya (Bhumika Chawla) – Third and my most favorite character ever alongside the character of Vikram in Moksha. She is the most mysterious character in the film and yet in the end, is the only character you are bound to think about, due to her mysterious transition. One is provoked to think, what changes, the tragic incidents of life is bound to bring? What odds one may have to fight to overcome the pain? What humans do to hide their depression, which may be clearly hidden by the physical appearance but can never be hidden through the eyes. I simply love this characters since, as unlike the other two, she is incomplete, and there is an intentional secrecy in her, which makes one think of her and the reasons for her acts, even after the movie has ended.

Interesting thing is the actors suit the characters so very well. I am a big fan of Surya since I watched Ghajini and Kakha Kakha. When I heard, Amir Khan is going to act in the Hindi version of Ghazini, I wondered and still wonder if anybody can ever match the powerful performance of Surya. He very nicely conveys the different shades of his character through his expressions. I have been a fan of Jyothika, since I watched her not so famous Tamil film – Snehidey(Friend) several years back; And she brings life to the character Kundavi and her process of maturity and understanding the value of life and relationships. This movie has made me a big fan of Bhumika. I think nobody else could have suited the role of Aishu best. The transition in the character is so well believable only because of her innocent face; one may clearly understand what I am saying if watched the movie.

Also the interesting thing in this movie is the characters interact less with themselves but more with the audience; may it be Kundavi interacting with audience through her life history or the diary that explains Gautham’s other side. And also the different characters in the movie are never aware of what is happening with the 3 central characters, so they behave like anyone normally would; kids behave kids; colleagues behave like colleagues and family like they are and never filmy because like in real life all necessarily do not know what happens within us and only the audience know what each character is going through. I liked this art because it instantaneously connects you with the central characters and they become part of you and no one else but you know what the characters are going through. With all this one can never forget to give all the credit to the brilliant director.

Other recent movies I like for its characters are –

Gaalipata (Kannada)
Boomrilu (Telugu)
7G Rainbow Colony (Tamil)

What Have I Been Doing So Far?

I usually rotate my hobbies so that they keep me equally engaged. I had had too much of TRAVELING till April and so wanted to change to READING. I read 3 books –"My Days" by R K Narayan, "Argumentative Indian" by Amratya Sen & Collected plays –Part I by Girish Karnad; all three where different and very interesting. “My Days” was refreshing and inspiring; Amartya Sen’s book was informative but I thought may be it was slightly biased and the plays by Karnad where superb, thoughtful tales from history. By the end of third book I had had enough of reading so I started watching couple of MOVIES.

The best I watched was “7G Rainbow Colony”; a Tamil film. This film is based on a real life story and is simply outstanding for its story, direction and acting. The movie is so real indeed, for the way it has been shot. I even watched "Dashavataram" and liked Kamal Hassan for his talent and at the same time hated his movie "Veteyadu Velliyadu" for its horrible storyline, display and dullest love story ever. I watched "12B" and thought it had good concept but should have needed more polish; the love story lacked intimacy. Well that’s a lot of Tamil movies, isn’t it? I watched "Sarkar raj" and liked it because of the direction and twists in the story and Kannada movie “Autograph” which is a beautiful tale.

By now, I am bored of movies too; I have watched enough; so what next? May be WRITING. I am planning on writing my 20th short story. I have the storyline etched in my mind.

Here are few glimpses of my Mangalore visit in May. Both my sisters and four kids where home. So it was a nice family reunion.

Watched my Youngest nephew from LA explore his grandma's home

Took my niece and nephew to the beach

Watched the crab dig holes

And few lonely moments at the beach thinking of someone!